Pete Vargas touts workforce development and cultural outreach in District 5 bid

Pete Vargas told the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 28 that workforce development and cultural engagement would be priorities if he were chosen to fill the District 5 vacancy.

"My family's been in this District 5 for nearly 80 years," Vargas said, arguing his local roots give him perspective on community needs. Vargas described work opening regional offices and building staffing capacity for a nonprofit advocacy organization and said he has overseen budgets from about $1 million to $10 million in prior roles.

He told commissioners mental-health access, affordable housing and workforce training are interrelated county priorities and urged creative approaches that use county resources to build capacity rather than one-off programs. Vargas said he would seek sustainable investments and be "not afraid of tough questions" or tough solutions.

Commissioners thanked Vargas for his experience and engagement and noted his background in organizing and workforce programs would inform county economic-development conversations.